Wisdom and Herbs for Winter Grounding
“Have faith that you can go to the darkness and emerge back into the light; That you can know yourself in a deep way without getting lost.”
by Katherine Elmer, Clinical Herbalist
*Content adapted from teachings of Larken Bunce (Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism) and the work of Professor J.R. Worsley.
This is the gift waiting for us in the stillness and introspection that the winter season offers us.
The winter season, from a Chinese Five Elements perspective, is associated with water*. It is a time of great darkness and cold. The water element is about identity; who we are in the deepest sense. The action of water is deep listening, to ourselves (reflection) and others (active listening). It takes courage to develop our true wisdom, but from that place is birthed the quiet, enduring and wise use of our power. Honoring the water element provides the information to choose how to act based on who we are and what gifts we have to offer.
Qualities of Balanced Water Element
● the ability to know oneself and manifest one’s purpose;
● a balance of courage and healthy fear that leads to appropriate risk avoidance;
● stillness to allow adequate time for reflection, regeneration and rejuvenation.
Physical Body
Autonomic Nervous System: Sympathetic (Fight/Flee/Respond to Opportunities) vs. Parasympathetic (Rest/Digest/Regenerate)
Adrenal fatigue is linked to imbalance in the water element.
Ways to Cultivate and Balance “Water”
HYDRATE! Support your body with healthy beverages AND fats/oils.
Rest and Stillness:
● Get adequate rest and take breaks for recharging. Have you noticed that you feel less grounded and clear on your priorities when you are multi-tasking or haven’t gotten good rest?
● Develop personalized routines for being still and present with yourself. Yoga, meditation, prayer, and walks in nature (especially around water!) are excellent options.
Medicinal Roots:
● Edible and medicinal plant roots nourish us and help us remember how to connect to the earth. Some medicinal roots, a group called “Adaptogens”, are particularly useful for restoring and maintaining a healthy adrenal system. Ashwagandha, Shatavari. and Eleuthero (Siberian Ginseng) are examples of these.
Call on the Earth Element:
● Fear and discomfort with the unknown are common emotions that come up when we begin to cultivate stillness and invite balance back to our water element. Support from friends and family, nourishing foods, time in nature, and/or gardening can bring in the “earth element” to ease and comfort us during those times.
Kundalini ~ The vital force lying dormant within one until activated by the practice of yoga, which leads one toward spiritual power and eventually salvation. (Dictionary.com)
“Go into the darkness of your own life, and you will find that the seed of your sacred work is often planted in the soil of your wounds…The initiation of the dark night of the soul is the training ground for your sacred work”
Recipes for Winter Grounding with Herbs
Chai:
Medicinal roots for the water element (or adaptogens) can be simmered for at least an hour in water or milk to make a full-bodied and slightly sweet warm beverage. My favorites include Burdock, Ashwagandha, Shatavari, Eleuthero, White Peony, Codonopsis, Astragalus, and/or Solomon’s Seal. The traditional chai spices (ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, clove, black pepper) can be added to taste to dried root blends to enhance their warming quality which in turn improves assimilation of the rooty medicine. I always include a little Licorice root, as an adrenal tonic and to provide a touch of sweet flavor so that little or no sweetener is needed. Add dairy or nut milk, and honey or other sweeteners if desired. Work with an herbalist and/or your own intuition to design a blend that works for you!
Bone Broth (or Vegan Savory Root Beverage):
The medicinal roots above can also be simmered with bones and/or mushrooms to create a savory preparation to drink alone or add to soups (use where recipe calls for water or broth). I save bones in a gallon freezer bag in the freezer and toss in vegetable scraps such as onion skins, carrot tops, etc. When the bag is full, I cover with water and simmer it overnight in a crock pot with medicinal roots and mushrooms. In the morning, I turn off the heat, add culinary herbs (rosemary, thyme, cilantro, etc.), salt and pepper. Once cooled to a warm but handle-able temperature I strain and use right away, or freeze some in shoulder-less tempered glass canning jars to use when needed.
Bliss Balls with Medicinal Root Powders:
Medicinal roots can be purchased in powdered form (recommended) or powdered in a coffee grinder (ideally one not used for coffee) and mixed into sweet or savory food preparations such as smoothies, yogurt, applesauce, oatmeal, or soups and stews. They can also be mixed with nut butter or coconut oil to make a healthy treat I call “Bliss Balls”.
Recipe: Mix 1.5 cups herbal powder with 3/4 cup almond butter, ½ cup coconut oil, and 1/4 cup raw honey, adjust proportions to desired consistency and flavor. For time saving at the time of preparation, store in a glass jar and eat with a spoon (1 TBSP 3-4 times per day). For later convenience (and perhaps as a meditation on self-nourishment), roll into 1 inch balls. Reserve some powder (~1/8 cup) for rolling the balls in before storage. For best results, consume 3-4 balls daily on a relaxed stomach. Makes about 2 dozen balls (6-8 days worth). Can store for up to 1 month in the fridge.
Variations:
Use other nut butters or ghee instead of coconut oil.
Add powdered superfood like flax, chia or spirulina.
Add chopped nuts or unsulphured dried fruits.
Nice flavoring plants to try: cacao, cinnamon, ginger, rose, lavender, chamomile, cardamom, orange or lemon (zest or dried, powdered peel).